Guide to Visiting Lake Louise and Moraine Lake in Banff National Park
Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies makes for a fabulous outdoor vacation destination. With unbelievably blue glacial lakes, deep canyons and gorges with rushing rivers and waterfalls, and spectacular hiking trails taking you to many of these places, it contains some of North America’s most stunning scenery. Two of the park’s lakes, Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, are especially popular. In this guide, we share how to plan your visit to these two lakes along with helpful information and tips.
About Banff National Park
Banff National Park is located in the Canadian Province of Alberta, in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. It is Canada’s first national park, dating back to 1883 when Canadian railroad workers discovered natural hot springs at the base of Sulphur Mountain. The land was soon set aside to protect this natural wonder and shortly thereafter Canada’s first national park was born. It was officially named Banff in 1930 when the then-president of Canadian Pacific Railway named it after his home in Scotland, Banffshire.
Banff National Park covers 2,564 square miles of land, encompassing lakes, valleys, rivers, and forests making it one of the world’s most outstanding national parks.
Situated about 80 miles west of Calgary, it is a fairly easy-to-access park. The town of Banff is a great base when exploring this park with a bevy of restaurants, lodging, and retail shops, and is a jumping off point for many tours in the area.
How About Those Glacial Blue Lakes
Both Lake Louise and Moraine Lake (and many other lakes in the area) are known for their striking turquoise blue hues. This is the result of glaciers slowly carving sediment off the rocks all summer long. The sediment then reflects the light, creating the bright turquoise colors. When we got our first glimpse of Moraine Lake, we (and others around us) all gasped! It is that striking!
The stunning turquoise water | Moraine Lake
BANFF NATIONAL PARK FACTS
Canada’s First National Park
- LOCATION: Alberta, Canada
- CLOSEST CITY: Calgary, Alberta
- ANNUAL VISITORS: 4 million people
- Number 1 most visited national park in Canada
- BECAME A NATIONAL PARK: 1885
- TOP THINGS TO DO: Visit Lake Louise and Moraine Lake
VISITING LAKE LOUISE AND MORAINE LAKE
As two of the most visited sites in Canada, visiting Lake Louise and Moraine Lake requires planning. With a rapidly increasing amount of visitors to these lakes, Parks Canada has implemented an easy-to-use shuttle system to take you to Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, and between the two lakes as well.
Timing of Visiting the Lakes
If photography is something important to you while at Lake Louise and Moraine Lake then timing does matter a bit. In the early morning hours, the lakes will appear more glass-like, reflecting the surrounding scenery. Here is Lake Louise when we arrived at around 7:30 a.m.
Reflective Lake Louise at 7:30 a.m.
If you hike the Lake Agnes Trail at Moraine Lake, you will also want to see Mirror Lake in the morning. We were there by 8:45 a.m. when it lived up to its name.
Mirror lake looking just like a mirror at 8:45 a.m. | Lake Agnes Trail – Lake Louise
Mid-morning brings the sun higher in the sky, which means the lakes are less reflective, however the turquoise blues pop. We were at Moraine Lake around 11:00 a.m. when these photos were taken.
These photos were taken around 11:00 a.m. | Rock Pile Trail – Moraine Lake
Another thing to consider is that crowd levels only increase throughout the day. That means more people possibly in your photos or having to wait to take pics. On both days as we were leaving the lakes, crowds were high. We were glad to have gotten early starts for sure!
All times of day provide beautiful opportunities for photos, it just depends on what you want to capture! A mix of early morning to mid-morning as well as early afternoon allowed us to see glass-like lakes and also their bright turquoise hues.
Visiting Lake Louise
As one of the most popular lakes in the Canadian Rockies, Lake Louise is a stunning setting sitting within towering mountains. Canoes dot the water with rowers out taking in the views from a new perspective. The iconic view can be seen after a short walk from the drop off area, right on the lakeshore.
Lake Louise
Prepare to share the view with many others! You can easily move around, though, with getting onto the trails and taking in even more stunning views as you climb high above Lake Louise.
Hike the Lake Agnes Trail
There are some great hikes around Lake Louise. We hiked the Lake Agnes Trail that takes you up over 1200 feet in elevation over about 2.3 miles to the Lake Agnes Tea House. The Lake Agnes Tea House is perched on the edge of the mountainside with beautiful views of adjacent Lake Agnes.
Originally built by the Canadian Pacific Railway as a refuge hut for hikers in 1901, it began serving tea in 1905 and hasn’t stopped since. Today, guests can enjoy a variety of teas and light fare such as soups, sandwiches, and fresh baked goods in this historic mountain hut. We sat inside and rested our feet while sipping a cup of delicious hot tea. It was a unique hiking destination for sure!
Lake Agnes Tea House | Lake Louise
While the tea house does not serve coffee (yes I know it’s a tea house, but myself and others in line had hoped for coffee!), the menu is plentiful with a long list of teas and snacks.
Lake Agnes Tea House menu
To order, there are two queues held outside: one is for take away and one is for dining in. We thought we were in the take away line as it was much shorter, however we were accidentally in the queue to dine in. We were happy to get an unexpected table inside! The ambiance inside is very cozy and we appreciated the break after the hike up here.
Inside the Lake Agnes Tea House | Lake Louise
Along the way on the Lake Agnes Trail, at about the halfway point from the trailhead to the tea house, is Mirror Lake. We arrived at Mirror Lake around 8:45 a.m. and it really lived up to its name. The water was like glass, reflecting the tall trees brimming the edge of the lake and the mountains just beyond. We stopped for a quick break here before continuing on the trail up to the tea house.
Mirror Lake, on the Lake Agnes Trail | Lake Louise
PRO TIP: When we passed Mirror Lake on our way back down around 11:30 a.m. it was already less “mirror-like”. For the ultimate view of Mirror Lake, arrive early before the sun gets too high.
The Lake Agnes Trail is almost completely uphill, with very few flat areas.
The Lake Agnes Trail | Lake Louise
The trail is listed as difficult due to the constant climb and being at a higher elevation. As you climb, the views get even better!
A pretty morning view on the Lake Agnes Trail | Lake Louise
There is a beautiful waterfall just below Lake Agnes as well. You can cross the bridge from the tea house and access a view point from the other side or go back down the way you came and view it from just below the tea house and Lake Agnes, which is what we did.
Waterfall at Lake Agnes | Lake Louise
Restrooms (outhouses) are located just a short hill climb up from tea house.
The trail’s name sake, Lake Agnes | Lake Louise
If you want to keep climbing past the tea house, the Little Beehive Trail continues on from the Lake Agnes Trail with great views of Lake Louise about one mile past the tea house. We went just about a quarter mile on the trail and had a pretty great view from this point. This is an option if you don’t want to climb the additional one mile, however still want a vast view with Lake Louise down below.
On the Little Beehive Trail – great views of Lake Louise from high above
Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is a historic hotel situated right on the shores of the Lake Louise. The beautiful mountain setting makes this majestic hotel an iconic destination in itself.
In 1890, Cornelius Van Horne, the Canadian Pacific Railway General Manager, built a small log cabin on Lake Louise called Chalet Lake Louise. The chalet featured just two bedrooms as well as kitchen, dining, and living areas. People would stay here during stops on the train and it soon grew in popularity. In 1890 about 50 guests stayed here, by 1912 that number catapulted to 50,000!
Being perfectly situated in this glorious alpine setting, it also became a prime destination for rock climbing, skiing, hiking, and more. Many celebrities visited over the years and its reputation as an all encompassing vacation destination only continues to grow.
Today, the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is a AAA diamond luxury resort featuring multiple dining experiences, including their acclaimed afternoon high tea. Chateau Lake Louise also features a spa, various tours and experiences on site, and, of course, luxurious rooms.
Before our hike, we stopped at Guides Pantry located in the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise for coffee. The cafe features a variety of hot and cold beverages and many take-away items to enjoy before, during, or after your hike.
Paddle Lake Louise in a Canoe
Located on the west shore of Lake Louise is the boathouse, where one can rent canoes by the half hour or full hour. Here is information on canoe rentals in September 2024:
- $155 + tax – 30 minute rental
- $165 + tax – 60 minute rental
- Hours: 10:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Three people max per canoe
While we did not do this as we found the prices too high, we enjoyed watching the red canoes glide across Lake Louise. This is a bucket list experience for many!
Renting a canoe is a popular thing to do at Lake Louise
How to Get to Lake Louise
Lake Louise has a small parking area however it is known to fill up well before sunrise and stays busy all day. It will be extremely difficult to find parking due to high demand, so it’s best to plan your transportation in advance. You have a few options for transportation:
- Self-Park: Take your chances and attempt to find parking very early in the morning. Note that it is very difficult to find parking. Some say that the lot fills as early as 4:00-5:00 a.m.! So, unless you plan to arrive very very early (even then you are taking a chance), think about taking a shuttle.
- Take the ROAM Public Transport. From the town of Banff, leave your vehicle parked and take the bus. For more information as to schedule, route, how to reserve your seat and more, check out the ROAM Public Transit Website.
- Book a Parks Canada Shuttle on the Parks Canada website, choosing a specific time slot. In 2024, 40% of the seats were released for the season on April 18. If you missed this date (or will miss the release date in the future in 2025 and so on), don’t worry, you can likely find a shuttle two days prior to your desired departure date. The remaining 60% of seats on the Parks Canada Lake Louise shuttles are released two days prior to the date at 8:00 a.m. MDT on a rolling calendar. As an example, we wanted to visit Lake Louise on Thursday, September 5, 2024. So, on Tuesday, September 3, 2024 (two days prior), at 8:00 a.m. MDT, I was able to book our shuttle. The shuttles run from May to October.
The pick up location for the Parks Canada Shuttle is at the Lake Louise Summer Gondola. Due to our early departure, we arrived early at 6:30 a.m. and parked relatively close to the main building. Unfortunately, no restaurants were open yet which meant no coffee! However, the main building and restroom facilities were open.
The shuttle pick up area at the Lake Louise Summer Gondola
We picked up our physical ticket for the shuttle bus from the booth in the pick up area. Be sure to hang on to it as it will be your return ticket as well. The Parks Canada shuttles do not have designated return times, rather you just hop on the bus to head back to the Lake Louise Summer Gondola.
Our Timeline at Lake Louise
To help with planning, here is our time line of our day at Lake Louise. Mike and I hike pretty fast so we didn’t stop for rest breaks along the trail other than specific spots mentioned and to snap a few photos. If you think the altitude and uphill climb will be difficult, be sure to plan on extra time.
- 5:45 a.m. – Departure from hotel in Banff.
- 6:30 a.m. – Arrive at Lake Louise Summer Gondola parking area.
- 7:00 a.m. – Shuttle bus departure for Lake Louise.
- 7:30 a.m. – Arrival at Lake Louise.
- 7:30 – 7:45 a.m. – Photos of Lake Louise and stop at Guide’s Pantry in the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.
- 8:00 a.m. – Hike the Lake Agnes Trail.
- 8:45 a.m. – We arrived at Mirror Lake, which was an absolute “mirror” at this time. Continued hiking up to Lake Agnes Tea House.
- 11:45 a.m. – Mirror Lake on the way back down was less “mirror-like” at this time as the sun was higher in the sky. We spent about ten minutes here enjoying a short snack break before our final descent back to Lake Louise.
The beginning (and end) of the Lake Agnes Trail | Lake Louise
Visiting Moraine Lake
Moraine Lake is another spectacular glacial lake in Banff National Park, ringed by The Valley of the Ten Peaks. The setting of the peaks and the impossibly turquoise blue color of Moraine Lake made Moraine Lake the winner for us in terms of stunning scenery.
Take in the Views from the Rock Pile Trail
This is where you get those epic views of Moraine Lake. From the trail head, which is right at the shuttle drop off, it is a relatively short, albeit steep, climb up to three levels of various view points.
The climb on the Rock Pile Trail | Moraine Lake
At each level, just a short climb from one another, you’re treated to the most magnificent views.
Stunning from every level
As as you get your first glimpse of Moraine Lake, you might audibly gasp like we and others around us did!
Hike the Consolation Lakes Trail
This trail starts right from Rock Pile Trail.
We did not see any trail markers after the above sign. However, we could see other hikers in the distance manuevering across a massive boulder field at the foot of the mountains before disappearing into the woods.
Mike making his way across the boulder field at the beginning of the Consolation Lakes Trail | Moraine Lake
We traversed this field, carefully making our way over rocks and boulders and finally came to the dirt trail taking us into the woods.
Finally in the woods! | Consolation Lakes Trail – Moraine Lake
On the trail, you will hike among tall pines with the rushing Babel Creek to the left. The hike is relatively easy with minimal elevation gain.
As you see light up ahead, the trail moves out of the forest trail to a large open meadow with massive boulders and rocks between you and the further lake.
A fabulous spot for a picnic lunch | Consolation Lakes Trail – Moraine Lake
We sat down on one of the rocks in the closer lake and enjoyed a lovely picnic lunch in this beautiful setting.
Rent a Canoe
Just like at Lake Louise, renting a canoe to glide around Moraine Lake makes for a fun hour. Again, we opted to skip it as prices were just too high for what we wanted to pay, but we did enjoy seeing people paddling out on the beautiful lake. As of September 2024:
- Canoe rentals are run by the on-site Moraine Lake Lodge
- Prices start from $160 CAD for a one hour rental
- Up to three people per canoe.
Lastly, there are restrooms (outhouses) and an on-site market at Moraine Lake selling drinks and take-away items. We enjoyed a drink and snack break while watching the canoes rowing about on the beautiful lake.
How to Get to Moraine Lake
Parks Canada no longer allows personal vehicles to park at Moraine Lake, meaning you cannot self-drive there, other than a few exceptions such as a disability placard or if staying at the Moraine Lake Lodge. The only option for visiting by vehicle is to book a shuttle.
Because of this, demand to visit Moraine Lake is high so you need to be ready to book your transportation well ahead of time.
- Like visiting Lake Louise, Parks Canada has a shuttle that you can book on a set date in April for the year. Again, if you miss this date, you can attempt to book two days prior at 8:00 a.m. MDT. These shuttles run May – October.
- Join a tour as there are many options, especially if coming from Banff.
- There are also private bus companies, endorsed by Parks Canada. We booked with Moraine Lake Bus Company and were very happy with them. The drivers were both fun and engaging while departing exactly on time! We were able to pre-book this shuttle as we knew we did not have the option to self-drive here. The Parks Canada shuttles were booked for the day we planned to visit. I didn’t want to take my chances in case I was not able to secure a spot two days prior since we did not even have the option to self-drive here. So booking with Moraine Lake Bus Company made it easy.
Our shuttle to Moraine Lake with the Moraine Lake Bus Co.
Pick up was once again at the Lake Louise Summer Gondola. We arrived at 9:45 a.m. for our 10:30 a.m. departure time. Because we arrived later in the morning than the day prior when we visited Lake Louise, we had to park much further away. This was fine because we arrived with plenty of time to spare, however definitely make time for this in your itinerary. With arriving with 45 minutes to spare before boarding the shuttle, we had plenty of time to park, walk to the main building, use the restrooms, grab a cup of coffee, and line up for our bus. We did not get a physical ticket for this shuttle ride, rather they just check off your name as you board the shuttle.
Our Timeline at Moraine Lake
- 9:00 a.m. – Depart our hotel in Banff.
- 9:45 a.m – Arrive at Lake Louise Summer Gondola to park and get on the shuttle.
- 10:30 a.m. – Board the Moraine Lake Bus Company’s shuttle bus to Moraine Lake.
- 10:50 a.m. – Arrive at Moraine Lake. First hike was Rock Pile Trail to take in the epic views of Moraine Lake.
- 11:45 a.m. – Began hike on Consolation Lakes Trail. Picnic lunch at Consolation Lakes. Hiked back and once back at the trailhead, purchased drinks at the on-site market for a rest break near the shores of Moraine Lake.
- 2:30 p.m. – Waited for a shuttle and got seats as standby on 3:00 p.m. shuttle (our original shuttle departure time was 3:30 p.m.). See more about this below.
VISITING LAKE LOUISE AND MORAINE LAKE ON THE SAME DAY
It is possible to visit both Lake Louise and Moraine Lake on the same day with a connecting shuttle bus. The lakes are just 14 km apart and if you are coming from further away, or just want to visit both in a day, it is certainly doable. If you want to add in additional hikes, however, I suggest a day for each. We were tired each day after hiking and each lake got its own deserved day. But, if visiting both lakes in one day is something you want to do, here is how to do it:
- If you have a reservation with Parks Canada Shuttle you can take the Lake Connector Shuttle. With a Parks Canada shuttle reservation for either lake (you have a shuttle reservation to Lake Louise or a shuttle reservation to Moraine Lake) you can also visit the other lake free of charge. That reservation allows you access to the Lake Connector Shuttle.
- If you are taking the ROAM transit from the town of Banff to Lake Louise, you can upgrade your ticket to the Super Pass to be able to access the Parks Canada Shuttle Lake Connector, taking you to Moraine Lake as well.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
- MOST IMPORTANT – Be Bear Aware: This is grizzly country and you need to make sure you know what to do in case of a bear encounter. Singing or talking is a great way avoid startling them of your presence. Never leave food out or litter, making sure to pack out what you take with you, including all food scraps. Carry bear spray and have it readily available. We secured bear spray in Banff and carried it with us our entire time hiking. Although we never came across a bear while hiking, we were prepared just in case.
- Pay careful attention to your return time on the shuttles. If you have a return time booked with a shuttle company, like we did with the Moraine Lake Bus Company, you need to be there exactly on time, preferably 10 minutes early as these shuttles are very prompt. We accounted for this in our plans, knowing we would be spending a good amount of time hiking. However, I over estimated the time we needed. We had a 3:30 p.m. return shuttle booked, but were done at Moraine Lake at 2:30 p.m. You can “standby” for an earlier shuttle if there is room. We were able to get on a 3:00 p.m. shuttle as there were a few remaining seats. As the driver said, it is a good possibility to get on an earlier shuttle. It is much more difficult if you are late for your reserved time as you not only missed your reserved time slot but might have to wait through several bus cycles before there is room.
- Parks Canada provides real time information on the BanffNow website on parking in various areas in Banff National Park.
- Secure your ParksCanada park pass here. I purchased the hang tag for our vehicle that is good for one year. I knew we would be going in and out of Banff frequently and entering Jasper later in the week.
- There is no cell service at Moraine Lake and it is very limited at Lake Louise. It is best to download or save any information you need for your hike, such as trail maps, ahead of time.
- Restroom facilities (outhouses) are available at the drop off areas at both Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. The Lake Agnes Trail has restrooms (outhouses) at the Lake Agnes Teahouse.
- Trekking poles are handy and I was very happy to have mine, especially due to the uphill climb on the Lake Agnes Trail in Lake Louise, the Rock Pile Trail at Moraine Lake, and traversing the boulder field at the beginning (and end) of the Consolation Lakes Trail.
- Dress in layers as temperatures change throughout the day. When we started out in the morning, we were chilly, wearing hats, gloves, and vests. As the morning went on and the sun climbed high in the sky, we ditched the layers as we got quite warm, especially while hiking.
Final Thoughts
The absolute best thing about visiting Lake Louise and Moraine Lake is very simple: just take it in. Smell the delicious fresh pine as you hike. Take in the panoramic views, especially of the turquoise lakes. Listen to rivers rushing by. When we visited in September, the sun was high and bright with not a cloud in sight. Feeling the warmth of the sun as we hiked left us with such gratitude for the experience.
OUR PACKING LIST
Here is our packing list for our trip to the Canadian Rockies:
- Our go-to hiking backpacks are Osprey brand. They are very lightweight and comfortable and carry all our essentials. You can find the backpacks in a variety of colors and capacities.
- Camelback water reservoirs are a must when hiking.
- I really like these Black Diamond trekking poles. These fold up and are lightweight, especially great for packing when traveling and taking along on hikes.
- No hike should be without a mini first aid kit!
Read More!
Below is more information and guides on travel in the Canadian Rockies:
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